VivaTech 2025: IVADO Showcases Quebec’s Responsible AI on the Global Stage in Paris

From June 11 to 14, Paris hosted VivaTech 2025, a major global gathering for technological innovation. The event brought together nearly 180,000 attendees and more than 14,000 startups from 120 countries. With Canada named Country of the Year, it had a strong presence thanks to a record-breaking delegation of over 600 representatives and around 100 companies, coordinated by Scale AI.

IVADO and the Université de Montréal were part of this official delegation. Alongside Luc Vinet (Executive Director), Foutse Khomh (Scientific Co-director, Research and International Affairs), Nancy Laramée (Director of Partnerships), Pierre Dumouchel (Director of Technology Transfer), and Dany Plourde (Technology Transfer and Innovation Advisor), a large community of IVADO-affiliated members and partners was also on site to showcase Quebec’s AI expertise and strengthen ties between the French and Canadian innovation ecosystems.

A key moment for transatlantic collaboration

On June 12, IVADO took the main stage with a presentation titled “Across the Ocean, Beyond Algorithms: Designing the Future of AI Together”, an invitation to rethink international scientific collaboration. This keynote highlighted the potential of robust, reasoning, and responsible AI (R³AI) in tackling major societal challenges. That same day, IVADO and Inria, France’s National Institute for Research in Computer Science, formalized a new scientific collaboration agreement aimed at facilitating talent exchange and the development of joint projects between Quebec and France.

Throughout the event, the presence of high-level political and economic figures underscored the strategic importance of VivaTech. Quebec Premier François Legault, Canada’s Minister of Innovation Mélanie Joly, French President Emmanuel Macron, business leader Hélène Desmarais, and Ambassador Stéphane Dion all emphasized in their remarks the urgency of building trustworthy AI and the critical role of international cooperation.

IVADO Booth and Strategic Meetings

At the IVADO booth, visitors were introduced to key initiatives from the consortium, including DémultiplIA, a project that illustrates IVADO’s ambition to generate concrete AI impacts in vital sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transportation. The delegation held over a hundred B2B meetings with stakeholders from a dozen countries to explore concrete collaboration opportunities.

Themes Aligned with IVADO’s Mission

The main themes of VivaTech 2025 strongly echoed IVADO’s priorities: high-performing AI focused on real-world applications, strong ethical governance, digital sovereignty, a low-carbon and sustainable economy, and a sustained focus on inclusion and social well-being. Discussions also focused on cybersecurity, quantum computing, data protection in public infrastructures, and the technological maturity of conversational agents in fields such as healthcare, logistics, and financial services.

These topics fueled exchanges during panels, workshops, and meetings, particularly at the Canadian Embassy in France and the Québec Government Office in Paris, where IVADO played an active role in the discussions.

Strengthening IVADO’s International Footprint

Another highlight of the event was the conversation between Luc Vinet and Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. Together, they discussed Canada’s role in shaping a global vision for responsible AI and the strategic value of international partnerships.

IVADO returns from VivaTech 2025 with new collaborations, increased visibility, and a clear message: Quebec’s AI stands out through its commitment to responsible, collaborative, and forward-looking innovation. The event helped position Quebec’s strengths on the international stage, expand business opportunities, and build solid bridges between ecosystems.